Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Fungal Infections and Mold Toxicity

The facts are you can normally go 3 days without water and 30 days without food, but you will die within 3 minutes of having no oxygen. It is that important! This gas is simply one of the most important to all life on earth. But it is also one of the most overlooked, and underappreciated treatments by many alternative, holistic and naturopathic medical professionals.

I have found that oxygen supplementation through methods such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), can be very beneficial for people with various diseases, and illnesses such as mold toxicity and fungal infections. It can also aid in the recovery of serious injuries and wounds. In fact, it can heal some people when no other treatment could.

My words are not theories but can substantiated with real science via several studies and many testimonials, including my own. In this article, I will show you why HBOT is beneficial for people who have a mold illness and or fungal infection. I will also detail the science that proves it.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a special chamber that is pressurized in order to deliver oxygen to a person to treat various wounds, illnesses and diseases. The goal of oxygen therapy is to provide the best transport of oxygen available to humankind to the blood, plasma, cerebral spinal fluid, tissues of the body, and bone marrow in order to help a person heal.

Hyper-oxygenation of the blood and tissues through hyperbaric oxygen therapy acts through multiple modes of actions to positively affect healing and oxygenation of hypoxic tissues in a non-invasive intervention. HBOT is known to stimulate progenitor cells, effecting repair and regeneration of both hard and soft tissues. Infections in deep tissues and bone benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy through direct antibiotic action, or synergistically with other standard treatments. Inflammatory factors are suppressed with oxygen treatments aiding in the healing processes.

Here is the science that proves my statements.

What people need to understand is the science behind mold. This is not difficult if you truly to keep things simple. For example, unlike other plants, you should know that mold does not purify the air by robbing it of its carbonic acid, and exhaling oxygen, but rather the opposite.

You see, mold growing in your home or in your body will absorb the oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide and carbonic acid just the same. It is robbing you of your precious oxygen! Also, these other deadly gasses that the molds exhale are just another toxic byproduct in addition to the deadly toxins that are released by mold called mycotoxins, which over time will slowly poison you.

This process is explained in the Nature London: The International Weekly Journal of Science, Volume 7:

“When a mildew is growing in the ordinary way in the free air on the surface of a liquid containing sugar, or on the surface of a plant, it absorbs oxygen from the air, and combines the oxygen thus absorbed with carbon, the product of the decomposition of the matter on which it is growing, so that by this ordinary process of burning, carbon dioxide and water are set free, while at the same time putrefaction is kept up in the substance attacked. The fungus is, in this case, feeding upon the organic matter, and breathing the oxygen just like an animal.”

An article in the London Medical Gazette: Or, Journal of Practical Medicine, Volume 18 stated that one fungus consumed in 12 hours, 12 percent, of oxygen gas.

“In a physiological respect, one peculiarity of the plants of this family is, their exhaling carbonic acid and hydrogen gasses while exposed to light, and therebv consuming oxygen. Nees von Esenbeck and Bischoff found that one large fungus (Boletus luridus) consumed in 12 hours, 12 percent, of oxygen gas.”

This is why it is important that if you are breathing in toxins that are taking the place of oxygen (O2) in the air, you are now getting less oxygen in the body and the only way to overcome the effects of a lack of oxygen is to breathe supplemental oxygen. This is common sense, and why oxygen is one of the first things you are given in the emergency room, during and after surgery and or by a paramedic if you ever take a trip in an ambulance.

In my article, Mold Produces Carbon Dioxide (CO2), I explain in detail how mold produces carbon dioxide in both the environment and in the bodies of people who have fungal infections. Essentially, an environment that has high levels of mold which can be someone’s home, workplace or school has poison air from the combination of mold spores which releases mycotoxins (biotoxins) and the carbon dioxide into the air.

This exact same thing happens to people who breathe in this toxic air. After inhaling mycotoxins and CO2, the blood will become highly toxic and acidic which then makes a person sick, ill and can cause disease and death if this toxicity is not properly treated. In the body and environment, these toxins and gasses displace oxygen and the mold can then thrive under low oxygen conditions.

When mold increases in your environment and body, it creates an abundance of carbon dioxide and when mixed with water and blood, it turns into carbonic acid. This CO2 then causes your cells to be deprived of oxygen and the blood to become acidic. As this acid builds up, the pH in the blood decreases, and these toxic wastes accumulate in the body which results in inflammation and a cascade of other symptoms.

This is why many people who suffer from a mold illness experience many different symptoms all throughout their bodies such as allergies, asthma, headaches, brain fog, confusion, light-headedness, drowsiness, blurred vision, increased heartbeat, fast breathing, kidney and liver pain which are all symptoms of high levels of CO2, and lack of oxygen in the blood.

The blood is a transport vehicle for nutrients and wastes throughout the body. Cells use oxygen (O2) for metabolic processes, and the waste product of this is carbon dioxide (CO2). This CO2 and O2 balancing system works constantly, but if CO2 builds up in the blood, then the body reacts to remove the buildup. Hence, one of the reasons many people who are ill from mold experience inflammation which is an immune reaction.

Molds, like many other diseases such as cancer thrive in low oxygen environments and in high concentrations of carbon dioxide and acidic environments. It is one of the most highly developed and advanced organisms known on the planet and knows exactly how to break down and eventually kill its host.

The most efficient and powerful remedial agent with which to combat the effects of carbon dioxide and mold mycotoxin poisoning is oxygen. Oxygen has the power to help you overcome the effects of inhaling mycotoxins and gasses such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Mold simply cannot survive in a high alkaline and high oxygen environment.

If you understand these facts, you can then get on the road to recovery by implementing a health protocol that includes detoxing with a high alkaline diet, extra oxygen and mold and carbon dioxide avoidance.

Now here are some studies that show how effective hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be for people with toxic mold illnesses and or invasive fungal infections.

They studied 10 patients outcome of survival 3 months after initiation of HBOT. Six patients were free of signs of infection 3 months after the first HBOT treatment. The researchers concluded that HBOT appears to be a valuable tool in this devastating condition.(1)

A study conducted in 2011 had shown improvement of attention span and reaction time with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in patients with toxic injury due to mold exposure. The researchers had studied 15 people who developed an attention deficit disorder (ADD) and slowing of reaction time at the time of exposure to mold toxins were identified. It was found that mold-exposed subjects show statistically significant decreases in attention span and significant increases in reaction time to stimuli compared to controls.

According to the study, after ten sessions of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT), a statistically significant improvement was seen in both measures. The researchers concluded that the preliminary study suggests promising outcomes in treating mold-exposed patients with hyperbaric oxygen.(2)

Researchers in 1995 found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy was a fungicidal and decreases acidosis thereby increasing tissue survival for people with a rhinocerebral fungal infection. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is an acutely fatal fungal infection that usually arises in the ethmoid sinuses, spreads into the orbits and then into the cranial cavity. It is typically seen in diabetic or immunocompromised patients. The researchers concluded that adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is another treatment modality that appears to be promising.(3)

A study titled, Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Invasive Fungal Infections: A Single-Center Experience, researchers studied Mucorales and Aspergillus, lethal fungal infections in 14 immune compromised patients and the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Most patients had significant immune suppression due to either drug treatment or their underlying disorder. The number of HBOT sessions ranged between 1 and 44. Seven of the patients survived the infection. No patient developed complications due to HBO therapy. The researchers concluded that HBOT is a potentially significant adjunct in the
treatment of invasive fungal infections.(4)

The top 3 symptoms of mold exposure and illness are inflammation, leaky gut and gut issues along with chronic pain. If you study “the science” of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), you will find a plethora of studies that show that HBOT helps, and sometimes cures each of these symptoms caused by toxic mold.

My Own Family’s Testimony

Like many people who have become ill from mold exposure, my whole family got sick after we had unknowingly rented a home in Carlsbad, California that was infested with toxic mold. My son Micah who is now 9 years old was hit the worst. He had these exact same symptoms listed above. We ended up seeing about 10 different doctors and not one could diagnose and or help him with his symptoms.

We made more doctor appointments and told the doctors that he may have a fungal infection because we lived in a home that had high levels of mold. They thought we were crazy and immediately dismissed our theories, but they still could not diagnose him, nor would they do proper tests to see if he in fact, had a toxic mold illness.

He was literally wasting away. I researched for hundreds of hours and came across articles and stories on toxic mold illness that seemed to almost match our story and my son’s symptoms. My research led me to find out that this inflammation issue caused by mold mycotoxins and carbon dioxide was most likely the main cause of his pain in his joints, bones and gut and many other people’s pain. In my studies in trying to find something that would help him, I came across Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

We eventually decided to move from California to Albuquerque New Mexico for a new start and cleaner air. It was here where we found a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) wellness center, and my son started therapy in January of 2016.

The only side effect he experienced was slight ear pain. We used ear candles to help clean his ears of all wax and also had him take sinus medication to open us his sinuses. After 3 HBOT session, he was perfectly fine and has been ever since. The mold illness and his symptoms far outweighed ear discomfort and we are very thankful he overcame this because the results now have been nothing short of phenomenal.

Micah is now out of his wheelchair and virtually pain and symptom-free. He is now a happy little boy again. He has his life back and we have our son back due to HBOT that I know helped save his life. I do not attribute his healing and progress 100% to HBOT, but I would safely say that it contributed to about 30-40% of his total healing regime which now includes a good healthy diet, vitamins, minerals, antifungals and various herbs and herbal supplements.

My son and I were recently featured on Channel 7 news KOAT here in Albuquerque, New Mexico for our use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat his toxic mold illness. It is awesome to have the opportunity to help spread awareness in the media to other people out there who are looking for alternative and natural treatments to help them heal. Here is the video by Channel 7.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) currently has approved 14 medical conditions for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) that are FDA backed and most likely covered by insurance which I have listed below. Unfortunately, toxic mold illness is not one of the allowable conditions under the FDA, and thus most insurance companies will not cover the cost of HBOT treatments.

Please keep in mind there are many more studies than the ones listed in this article and experts that have shown HBOT can be beneficial and very helpful in treating various medical conditions such as brain injuries, staph infections, arthritis, PTSD, chronic inflammation, Alzheimer’s Disease, autism, asthma, fibromyalgia, mold illnesses, lyme, and sport injuries to name a few. These conditions are currently not approved by the FDA.

Please understand that there are quite a few HBOT facilities around the country that will allow people to have FDA off-label sessions of HBOT as part of a wellness plan (not treatments or to cure) like the one where my son is currently having sessions here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is an oxygen wellness center called Pro Oxygen.

If you have any questions, and or testimonials about HBOT, please comment below.